The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-21

Can we see q fellow man perish, going
down step by step into outer darkness?
No, indeed, we cannot afford to sit still
and let these evil places shine forth in
their glory, enticing our Young men into
them and reaping a harvest for the enemy
of Christ. After q soul is born To God il is
as \ babe, and needs 10 be nurishcd and
encouraged in IN advancing spirit-to
learn more of Gods word and his people.
Who will counsel this young man in his
weak faith? Who will draw him from the
many temptations OF satan's angels? This
is our work, the work of the Young Mems
Christian association. y
"lIow is il to be most successfully done?
BY offering the young mm q substitute in
II place to spend his evenings, This has
been done. But now we come Ia the point
where so many associations are seemingly
AT loss; that is, 10 keep up the interest in
attracting them 10 the rooms, The read
ing-room is good, so also is the gymnasium, |
the parlor and the various departments Of
the building; but, at best, these are liable
10 become monotonous 10 Il certain class
(which is nearly always the larger class,
and unless variety OF entertainment is
brought into the rooms there will he u
lack of interest, and the crowd will dwin-
tlt iOMn w Illt tulNill'l wv hNihtH
your members, and In So doing awaken an
outside interest by giving II reception
or an entertainment. The latter can
he moro successfully given by
having the board select u committee Of
wide-awake young men, who have the in
tcrcst Of the association ut heart; whose
duty il should be 10 arrange II suitable
program consisting of music, Rotations
and n short practical talk ON the work OF
the Young Mems Christian association,
bringing The work 10 the front, the past
and its future prospects. Make il short aud
interesting; have every program to teach
good morals and leave nm impressive les
son. Place as many Of the members Of
the association as possible on the pro
gram, in order 90 show the public with
what zeal and carnestncSs the Young men
lend their hands to the Masters work.
Always divide the program into two parts;
during the intermission let the reception
committee take charge Of the room, and on
such an occasion each and every member
should consider himself one Of the COM
mittce. Meet everybody in the room,
take them nv the hand aud welcome them
heartily, especially the Young men. lia
stranger, get his name and address and in
vitc him 10 the mex meeting; call on him
ut his place of business in the meantime,
and repeat the invitation; tell him of the
many advantages Of the association rooms
and meetings, show him that YOU are
really in earnest and Interested in him
and want him 10 come back.
while doing this do not neglect the
older ones, the parent and the merchant;
take them and show them the rooms,
reveal To them the great and
good work going on in offering ~ even.
ing hour Ia the young men. DO not
think because they are not young men
they are not needed in our work; in 80
thinking YOU arr in great error.
"By creating II warm spot inthcir hearts
for the association the sons, relatives and
friends will he encouraged by their visit
ing among IA, aud tbUy will Use their iniiU-
cncc for us; the clerks, hook-kccpcrs anl
employees will get away from their work
in time 10 attend the meetings. Yes, and
when We ~ To them for financial aid they
will know better how 10 give, and what
they arr helping 10 support, and YOU will
readily note the effect.
we must ever bear in mind that our
work il the Lords work, and We arr inter
cs;cd In the salvation Of young men, AMI
our love Tor their souls must lead M on aud
on; and with this pndominating u asso.
alton will grow in the work, and take hold
on the hearts Of Ia pcoplc and gradually
gain position until IL will WELD mn inilu-
encc over the young men that will result
in the crushing out of these dcns oi gam
blcrs and general agencies of satan.
at these entertainments We should con-
t%inually hold out the work 81 the Young
Mems Christian association before the
people. Present II in all It's branches, i'm.
pressing the public with the grand aud
glorious end in view. In ~ doing
We arr planting seeds Of truth ia the
hearts " both the parents and
the young men that will yield
a hundred fold, and, We trust, aid IN
bringing the young man back into our
midst, nilnrling ~ an opportunity ui
knowing him, aud IL We follow him with
our exposition 81 good works We may
soon teach him also Ia love the work, and
exert his influence with his friends In
bringing in Others. Hence, souls arr prob
ably reached by m that We would not
have known had Il not been for our work
az the entertainment.
Now We must avoid makingthis the only
mcthod of reaching young men. While
the entertainment IL profitable and grand,
and good results may bc obtained through
IL, an excess, having them too IRE.
uucnt, will, Ia an extent, cause them ~
become monoiunOus aud cause u lack NJ
interest among thuac who had enjoyed
them. AlwnyS strive to make friends iur
the association. Make the program short,
solid aud IN the point. everything hving
complete In itself, entertaining, interesting,
and NJ the same time teaching n lesson a.
thc. listeners.
"ln no instance should these entertain.
mcntS b. made a sourc " financial profit.
LIT me impress YOU with this iict, for Il
will keep many away Who We arr rndciN.
oring Ia reach, aud will fall short IT having
the desired effect in gathering together one
and al In the interest II thc association
work. IN all money making entertain.
mcnts, aud especially in home talent pro.
grams, the public go to help YOU out, IN q
financial point, aud IN few instances du
they think they ct value n.
uriycd. aud We are sorry "a Nay
many, yes, a great many ar i%nclincdto feel
that the association WIS indebted Ia thcnl
Tor coming. Thus a very different elect
N produced from that lur which W. arr
luhurug.
II iruA the object ii these entertain.
mcntsis fully nj the heart II each andrNcty
member Of the ns-o, iatiun aud you vii
note the many things necessary To max,
them u SUCCESS.
| Next othe program "" must attend "a
advertising them In every possible way
Make II q point 10 call 40 the young men.
, 90 FROM the bank 10 thy workshop, invite
one and all, aud talk especially about Tie
Young Mems Christian association. W.
should exert Oun-ely,r IA get the lnbornl
: man, for ho ~ often feels that ihcsc enter
tainmcnts arr not iur him, but ipf ih'
= young man with fine clothes on his back
but not NJ. H. mo- inspector oi persons